| Element | Specific Issue | Comments | Possible Solutions from Toolbox |
| Water Quantity | Water Balance Needed | The Plan must estimate the amount of surface and ground water in the river basin, how much is being used, and the total amount of water represented by water rights. This will let us know how much water is available in the basin. | Level 2 Assessment |
| - | Water Rights: investigation, validation, issuance | This information is being compiled by the Department of Ecology and will let us know how much water is represented by existing water rights, and perhaps how much of that water is actually being used. | - |
| - | Flood Control | Problem for Centralia and middle Chehalis River Basin | Water storage, limit floodplain development |
| - | Exempt Wells | The increase in exempt wells means that more and more water is being taken from sources that feed rivers and streams. When combined with development that paves over land to prevent water from entering back into the ground, this results in reduction of the amount of water available for fish and people in our rivers. | Ecology database of exempt wells, with overlays of land use. Future development must be done carefully. |
| - | Conservation | Hatcheries, businesses, and residential water users can use less water without much effort. | - |
| - | Re-use | The use of "recycled" water increased 30% from 1996 to 1997 (according to an article in the LA Times). It is being used to grow hay, make newsprint and concrete, dye carpets, hose down landfills and fill cooling towers. | - |
| - | Recharge | Puts water back into the ground, where people and streams can use it (pavement prevents this). | - |
| - | Land Use | Existing laws must be followed for there to be enough water in the future. | - |
| - | Instream Flows | More water in the ground will allow more water to trickle into the streams and rivers, which will help fish and surface water supplies for people. | - |
| - | Water Storage | By storing water in reservoirs during times when it is abundant, we may be able to supply water for people and fish when it is most scarce. | - |
| - | Hydraulic Continuity | This describes a common situation where water in the ground connects to water in streams or rivers. By trickling to the surface, groundwater feeds the river or stream. | - |
| - | Availability | Is there enough clean water? This crucial question is being addressed by the Chehalis Basin Watershed Plan. | - |
| - | Habitat | The more water available, the more can be left in the rivers for fish and other wildlife. | - |
| - | Stormwater | When storms hit, the rain recharges groundwater and surface water, making more water available. | - |
| - | Tidal Influence | Saltwater can intrude into freshwater systems, which means there is less freshwater available. | - |
| - | Gaging | Measuring devices on tributaries of the Chehalis help us know how much water exists on the surface at any given time. This helps us know how much water exists overall. | - |
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